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Topic: Rumours & Speculation & Rants (Read 21786 times)

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #460 on: Jan 16th, 2008, 9:28pm »

Lets hope the members of that Commuter Rail Group which includes ( ICF, SRY, Langford, Westhills Development, View Royal, etc.) have better luck in convincing the government for funding, perhaps the Feds will be easier?

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #461 on: Jan 19th, 2008, 6:00am »

Just wondering if someone could get a look at the new building being built around mile 1.2 out of Vic, It appears to be angled an graded in such a way to get me thinking a new shop could be on the way for the Budds.

Either that or (god forbid) a freight customer, maybe? Or shops for the new commuter equipment

« Last Edit: Jan 19th, 2008, 6:02am by cn2220 »

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Tyler

Long live the GE`s!!!!

Posts: 778

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #462 on: Jan 19th, 2008, 1:50pm »

Had a quick glance at it while driving by the other day. I'd say its a warehouse or distribution building still under construction. Its pretty big. Hard to tell from my angle if its on grade for rail service, but it might be above it. There had been a lot of fill at that property in the last while. I'd like nothing better than to see service to Victoria, but I don't know if this is it. I'll look again though.

Posts: 91

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #464 on: Jan 19th, 2008, 7:05pm »

what road is this near? Mile 1.2 would put that near Devonshire Rd? I might check it out myself.

Yep that's where it is. Last time I saw the site it looked like it was just going to be a wearhouse w/ road access because the road and rail have different grades, however I haven't seen it lately and lots could have changed.

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Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #465 on: Jan 24th, 2008, 9:54pm »

I stopped by the construction site at mile 1.2 this afternoon. From surveying the site, I observed that a spur could go directly into the warehouse if the switch was sited back near the road crossing. The grade into the building would be fairly steep, with a couple of tight curves to negotiate the power poles on site.

I then spoke to one of the workers, who told me that the wall through which I envisioned rail cars entering the building would not have any openings. He then told me that there were two more buildings planned for the site, one on either side of the building currently under construction. The building closest to the intersection (Devonshire at Fairview) could conceivable have rail service, as it is fairly close to grade level, however, the power poles would need to be realigned, and it would make for a fairly tight clearance with the mainline.

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Grant Williamson, Saanich BC

Posts: 874

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #466 on: Jan 30th, 2008, 10:59pm »

I did some work at Lafarge's Victoria depot today. I spoke with their maintenance guy about the rail service in Nanaimo. He told me the product is all fly-ash for mixing with concrete. They are planning on phasing out the rail service if they find the budget to build a fly-ash unloader for barges. His only comment was the rail service was unreliable. I have no idea of this fellows authority to comment on the state of affairs.

Anyways - not the happiest rumour I ever heard, but it made me wonder if SRY still struggles with the interchange with CP at Tilbury. SRY doesn't strike me as unreliable.

Posts: 2059

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #467 on: Jan 31st, 2008, 3:40am »

I did some work at Lafarge's Victoria depot today. I spoke with their maintenance guy about the rail service in Nanaimo. He told me the product is all fly-ash for mixing with concrete. They are planning on phasing out the rail service if they find the budget to build a fly-ash unloader for barges. His only comment was the rail service was unreliable. I have no idea of this fellows authority to comment on the state of affairs.

Anyways - not the happiest rumour I ever heard, but it made me wonder if SRY still struggles with the interchange with CP at Tilbury. SRY doesn't strike me as unreliable.

Ummmmm This infers that they get some rail service into Victoria? Or is this just the unload product at Wellcox?

All the fly ash is transloaded to trucks at Wellcox, though a good portion of it gets used in Victoria. They also supply Butler Brothers with fly ash.

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Posts: 874

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #470 on: Feb 14th, 2008, 9:49pm »

The I.B.E.W Local 230, the union that represents the rail workers at SRY-VI, has announced they spent six days negotiating for the next year of service on the Island. The Local 230 newsletter indicates that Southern is looking for a long-term Collective Agreement once the current year is up.

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #471 on: Feb 14th, 2008, 10:49pm »

The I.B.E.W Local 230, the union that represents the rail workers at SRY-VI, has announced they spent six days negotiating for the next year of service on the Island. The Local 230 newsletter indicates that Southern is looking for a long-term Collective Agreement once the current year is up.

Sounds promising...

If Southern is looking for a long term deal, then they must know that future is bright for the E&N (freight and passenger).

That is a good sign.

I know we have debated the future of our little railway many times,but I am sure that you will all agree when I say that things are starting look up.

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #477 on: Mar 14th, 2008, 1:14am »

I did some work at Lafarge's Victoria depot today. I spoke with their maintenance guy about the rail service in Nanaimo. He told me the product is all fly-ash for mixing with concrete. They are planning on phasing out the rail service if they find the budget to build a fly-ash unloader for barges. His only comment was the rail service was unreliable. I have no idea of this fellows authority to comment on the state of affairs.

Anyways - not the happiest rumour I ever heard, but it made me wonder if SRY still struggles with the interchange with CP at Tilbury. SRY doesn't strike me as unreliable.

SVI, won't go after more traffic, as they say the tracks cannot support frequent freight trains with heavier loads, thats why we haven't seen any service or increase in traffic south of Duncan. The suggestion of a Southern Rail of BC rail/truck barge slip at Annasis Island I have heard that it might support BNSF traffic from the closing of the BNSF barge slip, and the SVI service would just be a added service to bypass Tilbury.

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Save E&N Railway History

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #478 on: Mar 30th, 2008, 4:20am »

Saw the 6148 today. They've removed even more seating to put the wheelchair accessible washroom in. What I don't understand is why does 6148 still have a snack bar if it is going to stay locked up? It's such a waste of space, space that could be used for extra passenger seating. They could probably get 3 more rows in if they took the snack bar out, and a couple on the other side if the storage area was taken out. Any more modifications and that car will be standing room only lol.

Re: Rumours & Speculation

« Reply #479 on: Mar 31st, 2008, 12:15am »

SVI, won't go after more traffic, as they say the tracks cannot support frequent freight trains with heavier loads, thats why we haven't seen any service or increase in traffic south of Duncan. The suggestion of a Southern Rail of BC rail/truck barge slip at Annasis Island I have heard that it might support BNSF traffic from the closing of the BNSF barge slip, and the SVI service would just be a added service to bypass Tilbury.

I talk to my brother who is in the Cement Business, I asked him about the possibilty of fly ash being moved by barge, he did not think it was something that would happen soon if at all. First thing you have to get the fly ash to the barge, I understand that the flyash comes from an area that does not have barge service so it has moved by truck or rail to the barge, you have to have a barge loading facility. At present they do not have a barge to carry flyash, so one would have to be built. They would have to have a barge facility on Vancouver Island to unload the product, my brother asks the question were on the Island is there a cheap piece of water front property were you could build it. He thinks the railcar delivery is working quite well. I hope he is right.